Talk:USCGC Seneca (1908)

Derelict destroyer

The ship was built with a special appropriation to fund a specialized "derelict destroyer" to eliminate the hazards. It is interesting now to look back at a kind of romance about derelicts which were featured in fiction and non-fiction, particularly boy's stories. Some examples with specific mention of Seneca are The Boy With the U. S. Life-Savers (part of a series on boys with government agencies, and The Boy Scouts for Uncle Sam. A quote from the first:

"Then the wireless began to be busy. Within twenty minutes the same message was received from Washington, from the station at Beaufort, N.C., from Fernandina, Fla., from Key West and from Nassau. Then by relays from vessels on the coast, from the Seneca, the Coast Guard's great derelict destroyer, far out on the Atlantic; from the Algonquin, stationed at Porto Rico; from the Onondaga patrolling the coast north of Cape Hatteras and from the Seminole in port at Arundel Cove undergoing repairs, came orders from the Coast Guard Headquarters. The Miami was instructed to proceed at once to the point indicated, to rescue survivors if such were to be found and to destroy the derelict which was floating into the trade route and was a menace to navigation. Meanwhile, the long harsh “buzz” of the answer sounded all over the ship from the wireless room as the operator answered the various calls with the information that the Miami was already proceeding under full speed."

And high adventure in the second:

“How soon will we start, supposing our parents allow us to go?” asked Rob, as soon as the laughter over Tubby's remark had subsided.

“At the end of this week if possible. Mr. Danbury Barr, the inventor of the Peacemaker, will meet us in New York. We shall voyage south on the U. S. Derelict Destroyer Seneca.”

“Derelict Destroyer,” repeated Rob. “Those are the craft that Uncle Sam sends out to destroy drifting wrecks that might prove a menace to navigation, aren't they?”

“Correct, my boy,” rejoined the officer. “Our reason for making the voyage on the Seneca,” he continued, “is that no regular passenger steamer makes a stop near Barren Island. Furthermore, if we went down on a naval vessel some of these sharp reporters would be sure to make inquiries, with the result that our retreat might be discovered.”

Floating derelicts lost until "found" by striking, possibly with crazed survivors left behind or treasure, were adventure topics as the days of wooden ships floating as nearly submerged hulks faded and before the days of air and satellite and sea surveillance changed the mysterious things to ordinary hazards. Palmeira (talk) 15:50, 23 June 2015 (UTC)